Almost all of us have unresolved issues we know we should address but have put off dealing with.

And at a time when we need every last ounce of energy, those issues can be really drag us down. Whether it's a phone call to a difficult client, a meeting with a retiree whose portfolio has been hit hard, a tough conversation with an underperforming staff member or getting through a mountain of filing, most of us have at least one issue on which we have been procrastinating for some time - weeks, months, maybe even years.

Unresolved issues sap our energy and undermine our ability to give our full attention to the rest of our job. I recall talking to the CEO of a client organization who started his career as a commodities broker. Every morning when he came in, on his desk was a list of clients he had to contact with margin calls. His experience was that if he didn't get on to those calls immediately, they would hang over his head and drag him down for the rest of the day..

It's human nature to want to defer unpleasant tasks. The truth of the matter, though, is that difficult tasks and decisions almost never get easier with the passage of time.The bad news is that procrastination breeds procrastination - the longer we put something off, the tougher it is to deal with it. The good news on the other side of the coin is that getting that tough issue off our plate can be an incredibly liberating feeling.

So here's a thought for you to consider. Think about the single task that you dread the most and have been putting off as a result - but know you should deal with. Then open your calendar and carve out two or three hours in your calendar sometime in the next couple of days to begin addressing that issue. Depending on the task, it may take less time than that or it may take more time - if it takes more time at least you can get started.

By cleaning up the messes in your business, you will clear your mind to focus on the important things in your business - and be more productive, motivated and effective as a result.